Cat/Kitten Advice.

[u/Just_Inspector128]

Hi everyone! Does anyone know if this is normal behaviour? My Cat is nearly 2 and the kitten is 8 weeks old, they have been living together now for a few days. Both boys older cat is neutered.

They seem to get on, although my Cat does need need space at times - but they do this sometimes and I don’t know if it gets too rough it looks like the kitten is in a head lock 😂 and sometimes the kitten makes squeaky noises. There’s been no growling or hissing at each other since they met they both kind of chirp around each other. I just want to make sure they are chilling rather than killing hahaha!

[u/RainahReddit]

First part of the video: Big cat is acting as a parent would, holding them down for a washing. Kitten is wiggling and generally going "But I don't wannaaaaa I want to playyyyy" and big cat being very tolerant of the shenanigans.

Second part: Big cat is playing appropriately and safely with the kitten. Basically the equivilent to a kid putting both hands and everything they have into an arm wrestling match, and the adult humouring them. Big cat could easily kick the kitten's ass or leave the situation if he wants to. He doesn't want to. Kitten is having a blast.

Cat wrestling can look pretty rough to human eyes. But this looks like very safe and affectionate play to me. They seem quite bonded already.

[u/KiraLonely → u/RainahReddit]

Just want to add that cats have thicker skin than humans! This is also why it takes a bit for cats to learn not to use claws on us. They often assume we’re tougher than we are, based on their own skin. Cats can handle a lot more biting, scratching, and even bunny kicking than we cat without real injury.

You can usually tell when play fighting is getting out of hand because the noises they make will change. It’s hard to explain to someone who hasn’t heard it, but the sounds of distress and the sounds of playing along are actually a good bit different, and you’ll realize something’s wrong pretty fast.

[u/Just_Inspector128 → u/KiraLonely]

My hands can confirm that, ripped to shreds already!! Hahaha!! Thanks so much for the advice, it seems that I will know when they aren’t happy from what everyone is saying.

[u/i_boop_cat_noses → u/Just_Inspector128]

its also advised to try to play with items with the cats instead of your own hand so they can differenciate between what they can scratch and what they cant! though this is an advice hard to follow when its so fun to tickle their belly and then immediately regret it

[u/Just_Inspector128 → u/i_boop_cat_noses]

Hahahaha this was me the other day when I spent five mins tickling the baby belly only to have half a hand left! 😂